Study Tips to passing Nclex this helped me Pass the second time around

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hey guys my inbox is getting overloaded with pm's so i decided to post it on here ! this is what i did to help prepare the second time around and i passed ! i felt confident and i was able to tackle the questions.

by the way to those of you asking i did not or read the kaplans book , i did every question in the qbank and test trainer 4,5,6,7, two times its repitition and how to answer the question , totally different from nursing school you have got to put yourself on the floor as if you are taking care of a patient ....think airway, breathing, circulation, pain and safety ! read below
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hello to all of you i want to share my experience with some of you , today i took the nclex rn exam for the second time in the row. my first date was june 14 and my second date today august 13 th.

after i found out that i didnt pass the first time , i was devastated but i also know i didnt study enough for that type of test . that type of test needs proper preparation . i left out of there my very first time in tears , only because i knew i did not pass.

i get my results approxiamtely 3 weeks after i took the boards , failed is what it said , i failed 3 sections out of the eight and i was nearly passing at the rest of them . so the way i interpreted was that i pretty much failed i took 197 questions the first time around . i tool 2.5 hours to take the exam .

what did i do , i put a study plan into effect, i took out a calendar came up with a test date and committed and adhered to my study plan. i read 3 chapters a day in the saunders book and completed the test after every chapter , i also did 100 questions in the kaplans q bank daily . if i was working ( well i worked as an ip until i found out i didnt pass and then i worked as a na ) i would just read my saunders book and then i would do the 50 questions in kaplan q bank. i also committed myself to do the q bank 2x over just so i was familiar . i had two weeks to go before my test date i had to throw it in high gear , on my days off i would study for 5 to 6 hours a day , i would do around 500 questions in that time . i reviewed every rationale whether i got it right or wrong i read it all . down to one week left till testing date , i did test 6 , got a 74 % on it wheeewwwhooo i was feeling good , next day did test 7 got a 67% i wasnt feeling to good but kaplans states if you get a 65 % or higher go in with confidence . so then i did test 5 got a 62 % i was bummed i couldnt believe it my test scores are going down what is going on here . so i then decide i was going to re-do all three tests and i did scoring a 95 % or higher the second time around .
the day before my test date i did test 4 and reviewed the every rationale right or wrong i scored a 72% on it .

the day of the test , pearson vue called said i could come in earlier if i wanted , my appointed time was a 2 but i showed up at 12 , before i left my house i did 70 questions in the kaplan q bank , yikes i know but i did it . i sit down in front of the computer my heart pounding , my hands shaking but i continue , by question 3 i got my first select all that apply , by question 22 i got another select all that apply by question 40 i had gotten 4 select all that apply and by question 60 i had 5 select all that apply , my test shut off at 75 , but i looked at question 75 and i stared for a good ten minutes ! i was so afraid to look further beyond it i was afraid that it will continue to question 76 , but my computer screed turned blue at that moment i got real scared and jittery i was afraid , what if i failed . when it was all said and done i got 20 medication question , a ton of priority and delegation a few ob questions 1 pediatric question some med surg questions too .

i felt so different this time , i still do not know my results but i can tell you i feel better , i feel a sense of accomplishment , i am crossing my fingers and i am praying that i passed . if i did not pass i cannot imagine what i did wrong , how could i study some more or how much more .

with this all said and done i have done over 3500 questions and i am hoping to pass .

for all you test repeaters stay strong and adhere to your study plan , i passed with doing the following above !

i hope this helps someone who will be retaking the nclex, i am not going to lie it was not easy but it was do able if that makes sense .

1hotrn,
Thanks for the advice; it gives me confidence that I will definitely pass on my second try. I am still waiting for my result in the mail, but I already know that I didn't pass because it's been 2 wks and it hasn't posted online.

Hang in there , if you need any help anywhere let me know , start studying now if you didnt pass , thats what i did my first date was june 14th , i knew i didnt pass by june 18th i started studying slowly and then when i got my letter a month later i put it in high gear , i study for 2 months before i sat for boards again , remember take care of yourself too and enjoy life ,i still did things that i enjoyed

1hotrn,
I received my letter today; it's confirmed - I didn't pass! I will start studying now and will follow your advice. I have high hopes that I will pass next time, I only had one below passing, all the rest near passing.

I have less than a month of Kaplan online access......will they extend it since I didn't pass. Is that how you did yours? Or should I try something else, like NCBNs?

Thank you for the study tips. I didn't pass my NCLEX the first time around and I plan to pass it the second time around. I did study Kaplan the first time around, but I don't believe I did enough questions. I am finishing up Saunders book for the content part of questions. I am hoping for a pass the second time around!

wow thanks for the tips...I am aiming to do what you just did...I am working full-time also in an office mondays to fridays I am out working 8 to 4pm, planning to make the saunders as my bible and answer more SATA questions fr silvestri...I am feeling positive that I will make it this time...good luck to those who are going for the NCLEX the 2nd time around like me...planning to take it this March though